Wills and Planned Giving

There are so many ways to support Benicia and the Benicia Community Foundation through Planned Giving!

Planned gifts offer donors a powerful way to continue their charitable work beyond their lifetimes. The Benicia Community Foundation accepts various planned gifts left by generous individuals who are committed to the future of our community.

This website contains information on planned giving topics, from gifts in your will to year-end planning. Documents are updated in January and July of each year to ensure proper legal documentation has been amended and at such times of legislative changes.

Bequests

A bequest in a will is one of the simplest and most popular ways to leave a legacy for the benefit of your community and for future generations. Through a bequest, a donor has the opportunity to define the purpose of their giving by choosing to direct giving to an existing fund within the Benicia Community Foundation or by establishing a named fund with its own defined purpose. A new fund can be established through an estate gift. Alternatively, some donors prefer to start a fund during their lifetimes. It allows them to begin seeing the impact of their giving and serves as the named repository of their future planned gift.

Sample General Bequest Language:

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Benicia Community Foundation, ___________________________(describe dollar amount, percent, fractional interest, or property).

To designate a specific endowment fund or other use, add the following: It is my desire and instruction that this bequest to the Benicia Community Foundation be used for the following purposes: _______________ or be designated for the____________________Fund.

To include a residual bequest, add:

If any one or all of the named beneficiaries do not survive me, then I hereby give the share that otherwise would be (his/hers/theirs) to the Benicia Community Foundation.

Legal name: Benicia Community Foundation, Inc.

Address: 821 East 2nd St. Suite 104 Benicia, CA 94510

Federal ID number: 85-1578759

Important: Please contact the Benicia Community Foundation when you choose to name the Benicia Community Foundation as a beneficiary of a planned gift. By doing so, we can ensure that the charitable intention of your gift is fulfilled and extend an invitation to participate in our Legacy Society.

Life Income Plan

The Benicia Community Foundation can administer charitable remainder unitrusts and annuity trusts, both of which pay lifetime income to your named beneficiaries.

Remainder Annuity Trusts

Provides income for life and tax benefits. Flexible funding options are available.

Unitrust Gifts

Meet your legacy goals with a flexible life income gift. Various funding options are available.

Charitable Lead Trusts

Freeze the taxable value of your appreciating assets: use them to make a gift to a fund at the Benicia Community Foundation today and then pass them on to family members later

IRA Rollovers

Naming the Benicia Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement funds, such as an IRA, 401k, or 403b, is a simple and effective way to benefit the community while avoiding significant, often unanticipated tax penalties. Your retirement plan is tax-deferred only until death. The remainders of these assets are subject to multiple taxes if left to an individual other than your spouse. Donating retirement accounts can reduce or eliminate these taxes completely while allowing you to make a significant impact on the community.